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* Mark Maxwell…
Edgar, an increasing critic of Governor Bruce Rauner during and after the state’s unprecedented budget impasse, has been coaching Democrat J.B. Pritzker in private discussions about how to woo voters and dodge controversy all while leaving himself enough room to maneuver in office. […]
From Edgar’s vantage point, the more promises a politician makes on the campaign trail, the more hobbled they can become in office.
“I don’t think anybody should explain a blueprint right now on all these issues,” Edgar said Monday.
The former governor, who was widely seen as a popular, moderate state executive, argued that Pritzker should focus on winning election now, and splitting hairs in the statehouse later.
“I would be very cautious on too many specifics before the election because they don’t have all the information, and they won’t have the information until they’re in the office,” he said. “And they won’t really know what might work and not work until they sit down with the legislative leaders in a non-election environment and try to get things done.”
On the campaign trail, Pritzker appears to be heeding Edgar’s advice.
Serious candidates for governor often ask former candidates for advice. That’s nothing really new. I’ll bet he’s talked to other candidates and incumbents as well. That’s just practical. Even Rauner talked to Edgar a bit during the 2014 race.
But this story running so near to the first gubernatorial debate has got to irk Rauner a bit.
* Also, Edgar’s 1990 campaign was pretty issues-focused. From the late, great Paul Green…
One issue dominated this campaign statewide: taxes. Hartigan took a very strong antitax position. He advocated (1) allowing the temporary two-year income tax surcharge to expire on June 30, 1991, (2) “cutting” 2 percent, or $573 million, from the state budget and (3) allocating 25 percent of new state revenue to education his first year and 50 percent thereafter to make up for the $383 million annual loss to education by discontinuing the surcharge. Edgar supported continuation of the income tax surcharge, and he was as firm in advocating state control over rising local property taxes by placing a cap on them equal to either the annual cost of living or 5 percent, whichever was less. Edgar rejected Hartigan’s projections for new state revenue as a hollow promise to education because the current economic slowdown and a possible recession would strangle state revenue growth.
Edgar won in a Democratic-leaning year. He was also one of the first statewide candidates here to realize that suburban women were a major key to victory and so he played up his pro-choice philosophy.
* Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Illinois has put together a new video featuring Edgar and Jeanne Ives talking about Rauner…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:12 am
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The Raunerbots and the far right will howl about this and insist that this proves Edgar is not a “Real Republican” without realizing how much that statement condemns the party instead of him.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:18 am
Another reason I love Jim Edgar.
If he’s coaching, that’s awesome.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:18 am
Jim Edgar. A tax and spend Republican. Or is it a tax and spend Democrat. One in the same.
Comment by BlueDogDem Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:19 am
===tax and spend===
He left with a billion-dollar surplus. I’m really tiring of your stale drive-bys. Up your game.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:22 am
So to sum up the advice: Talk less. Smile more. Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:25 am
U of I coaches don’t have good records lately.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:26 am
=Tax and Spend=
One of the lamest talking points of all time. Want to test the IQ of a candidate? If the decry “tax and spend” you know they are dumb.
Unless of course they are advocating closing all government. Otherwise, for government to operate they have to levy taxes which they spend.
It has only been that way since recoded history began and governments began.
So a while.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:28 am
Has the Republican Party in Illinois changed so much that it has to attack its last effective Governor because he was not extreme enough?
Comment by Ole' Nelson Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:30 am
If someone from out of state asks you: “Why is Rauner trailing so badly?” You can save your breath and send them a link to this video. Pretty much says it all.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:32 am
I understand Edgar’s advice. Win then deal with the specifics. The problem is that Pritzker will have no mandate to enact his own goals. He is going to win going away. This campaign style weakens him as Governor if he has to challenge Madigan.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:34 am
“I’m not in charge” - what more needs to be said about a failed governor and a failed campaign? And why would Edgar ever want to attach his name to another campaign?
Comment by illini Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:40 am
“=Tax and Spend=
One of the lamest talking points of all time.”
Right up there with Waste, Fraud and Abuse.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:40 am
All is fair in love, war and Illinois politics.. I hear that a former Democratic elected official is giving Gov. Bruce some tips too..former Senator Bob Molaro is giving the Gov tips on how to behave amongst real life Italians when he and the Mrs move to Italy in early January
Comment by Not Rich Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:40 am
Edgar also may remember (if I’m remembering right) that he handily defeated Netsch by reminding voters of her specific pledge to raise the state income, framing it as a 67% hike.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:40 am
“no mandate to enact his own goals.”
His mandate will be winning the election and then working with the legislature.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:41 am
I doubt if Pritzker really needs the advice of someone who last held elective office well back in the last century, but have at it.
Comment by Chris P. Bacon Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:41 am
Jim’s pension and second home in Colorado will likely be more secure under Pritzker leadership.
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:47 am
This makes sense. Edgar believes in big activist government and paying for it. Government has been very good to Edgar.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:52 am
===he handily defeated Netsch by reminding voters ===
That was part of it. A much bigger part was that he was a decent GOP governor in the biggest Republican national wave since 1946.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:52 am
==The problem is that Pritzker will have no mandate to enact his own goals. ==
LBM, I’m pretty sure that a 15 point win over an incumbent governor and being the main source of funding for the party that controls state government will give Pritzker all of the mandate he could possibly need. It would definitely give him enough of a mandate to shove Madigan into retirement, if the Speakers last year of sexual harassment screw-ups hasn’t already done so.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:53 am
So, Rauner has alienated the conservative republicans and the moderate republicans? Which leaves…
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:56 am
==The problem is that Pritzker will have no mandate to enact his own goals. ==
He’s been plenty clear about his goals- Fair tax, infrastructure, public option, legalized marijuana. He’s been less clear about his methods. Frankly, that’s probably the sweet spot for a mandate.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:57 am
Jim Edgar is a moderate Republican and remembers the old Illinois Republican Party. Whatever input he has is quite welcome as a forgotten voice of party reason.
He, I and many others remember when Republicans were not Raunerites. Here in central Illinois, we saw three good state rep’s run off to be replaced by hand-picked Raunerites…one being Diana Rauner’s Chief of Staff, for heaven’s sake.
I believe Jim Edgar recognizes that his/our party has been subject to a hostile take-over, and he may be the standard-bearer for a reconstruction of a more humane ILGOP.
Whatever he does and says merits a watch & listen.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 11:58 am
Maybe Ken Dunkin is giving Rauner advice as well.
Comment by Real Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Raunerites really need to come to terms…
Raunerites are NOT Republicans.
I stand with Edgar… Edgar knows… Raunerism is crippling Illinois, and all this yapping about Edgar and his term… you ignore Rauner’s term… you may be a Raunerite.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:10 pm
=Jim’s pension and second home in Colorado will likely be more secure under Pritzker leadership.=
Everyone’s pension will probably be more secure if Pritzker wins.
That is a good thing.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:12 pm
This “couching” best helps explain Rich’s post yesterday about JB backing off his pension specifics. Don’t paint yourself into a corner.
Comment by Just A Dude Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:15 pm
===Don’t paint yourself into a corner.===
Never have policy plans with exacting parameters.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:19 pm
Winner’s gonna win and loser’s gonna lose. Goodbye attempted radical right insurgents. You failed in your wolf in sheep’s clothing opportunity.
The lies, misrepresentations, failures and fake costume schtick caught up to you.
Comment by El Conquistador Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:25 pm
Edgar must be bored with too much time on his hands. Next we will find out he worked on HRC’s campaign. Edgar was long part of the infamous John Kass well defined combine. Is Janice Cellini( Edgar’s patronage secretary) also helping out Pritzker. No one should be surprised after the election to see a return of the kinds of corruption we suffered thru while Blago was in office. Rauner may not be great but single party control isn’t what the State needs
Comment by Sue Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:33 pm
Edgar must be bored with too much time on his hands.
-Yet you didn’t say any of this when he endorsed Rauner. Maybe you just have too much time on your hands and can’t handle the truth that Rauner is a failure.
Comment by Real Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:36 pm
Real- read my last sentence
Comment by Sue Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:37 pm
I have always liked Jim Edgar. He was the first governor I really remember. He always has seemed approachable, knowledgable and friendly when I’ve encountered him in contrast to other pols I met both as a regular person and in a professional capacity. And then there’s the Central Illinois bias toward him that makes me think more favorably on him.
I was too young for the MSI scandal whatever that was. Also too young to know/care that much about any tax flip-flops he may or may not have had.
For me, some of the shine came off when it came out he was making money leading a firm that profits off the state accumulating unnecessary interest payments due to the bill backlog. If he wants to play senior statesman he should be championing legislation to lower the interest rate for overdue bills to a more reasonable rate not be another pig with his nose at the trough getting fat on IL dysfunction.
Another black mark is his role in the Lincoln hat fiasco that needs some serious investigation.
Tread lightly, JB. Just because Edgar says nice things now is not proof he will be there forever. Just look at what he says about the guy he endorsed four years ago.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:39 pm
Sue
Already did. That’s horse dung to say elect this failure so there is no single party control. If that’s the case you have 2 other options on the ballot. Sam McCann and Kash Jackson. Choose with intellect this time.
Comment by Real Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:40 pm
==after the election to see a return of the kinds of corruption we suffered thru while Blago was in office.==
And you believe that why?
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Tread lightly, JB. Just because Edgar says nice things now is not proof he will be there forever. Just look at what he says about the guy he endorsed four years ago.
-Not sure JB needs to tread lightly since he is a democrat and Edgar is a republican. Its not like if Edgar turns on him that it will hurt Pritzkers base. It only can hurt Rauners base when Edgar turned on him.
Comment by Real Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:46 pm
Sue says ” Rauner may not be great but single party control isn’t what the State needs.”
He dropped close to a 100 million to buy control of a state party. You know that, right?
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:53 pm
==No one should be surprised after the election to see a return of the kinds of corruption we suffered thru while Blago was in office.==
Oh, we don’t have to wait. Rauner already gave Cellini’s outfit a sweetheart deal on that warehouse in Springfield and took a shady business meeting on the back porch of the mansion. And then, of course, there’s Ken Dunkin. It’s pretty clear that Rauner’s only problem with the Blago-era corruption is that he wasn’t personally making any money off of it.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:08 pm
We are essentially trading one inexperienced Plutocrat for another but the new one has a seemingly gargantuan appetite for spending on new social programs without being at all forthcoming on how to pay for it. I get it that you public sector types don’t care about the rest of us taxpayers as long as you’re zlo taken care of. Tax the rich as the saying goes- unfortunately you don’t get enough revenue that way. Dollars to donuts the middle class will be paying a lot more in 2020 or maybe even on 7/1/19
Comment by Sue Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:44 pm
==after the election to see a return of the kinds of corruption we suffered thru while Blago was in office.==
Hahaha, very good joke! See, is funny because it pretends that the corruption engaged in by Rauner and Trey Childress was not as important than what Blago did. Good job, I may have to steal this.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:48 pm
== I get it that you public sector types don’t care about the rest of us taxpayers==
Another victim heard from. Two things:
State Employees are taxpayers too
State Employees want to be paid what they were promised and are owed (assuming you’re talking about pensions which based on your past history I’m guessing you are)
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Public sector types pay taxes. All of us, even you and I who don’t work for the government benefit from revenue spent thoughtfully.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:52 pm
I’m getting a chuckle out of the predictable responses of the trolling Raunerites on here. The ILGOP went along with letting this walking mistake of a Governor buy their loyalty. Now we have a former GOP Governor helping the Democratic nominee. This is really unprecedented but Edgar was a Governor who actually had empathy for people, especially those that were most vulnerable. He realizes that Rauner absolutely has to go so that’s why he’s doing this.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 1:56 pm
“trading one inexperienced Plutocrat for another”
One is willing to learn from the experience of a guy that has held the office, the other won’t.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:14 pm
Anybody talking that this is not fair, Edgar is corrupt blah blah blah.
Your missing the point.
Edgar is a former Governor who left with a budget surplus and a high favorable rating. To try to diminish either means you think ultra nuance wins public opinion. It does not.
Edgar is liked and popular. not as famous as he was but for sure well liked by the age 55+ GOP voters that are around. They remember Edgar as better times for the State even with Madigan around Edgar was able to accomplish his goals.
Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:26 pm
=without being at all forthcoming on how to pay for it.=
I am still waiting for a list of the dozens of companies Rauner is bringing. Is he waiting until his next term?
Waiting for that big waste, fraud, and abuse reveal ceremony? Maybe Rauner spent all of it on his tech consultant?
=I get it that you public sector types don’t care about the rest of us taxpayers as long as you’re zlo taken care of.=
I get it, you citizens against virtually everything types don’t like to be compensated as promised? Right, pull this leg and it plays jingle bells. I am guessing if you were ever shorted a penny you would be squawking to every op ed column in the country.
=Tax the rich as the saying goes- unfortunately you don’t get enough revenue that way. Dollars to donuts the middle class will be paying a lot more in 2020 or maybe even on 7/1/19=
The ol’ “Class Warfare” grift eh? Nice try. I still see tha Minnesota is in business.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 2:36 pm
Wire-framed glasses are coming back in style, so why not?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 3:22 pm
Rauner is a classic know-it-all. As governor, who did he ever listen to, that he didn’t burn later?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 4:23 pm